I'm thinking of getting a drum machine program. Before laying down the cash to get one, which is the best?

Do you want something that plays loops or that you program yourself?

If it's the latter, I'm pretty happy with my battery/drumkit from hell combo

I use Reason 2.5

Drumkit From Hell and Big Fucking Drums sound the best.

Reason etc are OK but they still sound fake. DFH and BFD both contain real drum kits that have been multi-sampled. This means that they have had all different types of hits recorded and mapped out so that you can trigger really hard hits or really soft hits or whatever and get perfect dynamics.

They have also been recorded using more expensive microphones than we could ever touch and done in amazing recording spaces. They cost a little bit but they are well worth it, they make you sound professional. If you program it well, you would not be able to tell that they aren't real drums.

I don't know how much BFD costs but in Australia you can get DFH2 for a measely three hundred dollars! Well worth it. For samples of DFH check out http://www.toontrack.com and for samples of BFD, check out my song "Surgery" at http://www.soundclick.com/gregreason

+1

(Drumkit From Hell)

Do you want something that plays loops or that you program yourself?

If it's the latter, I'm pretty happy with my battery/drumkit from hell combo

Im looking for one that you program yourself

Im looking for one that you program yourself

Then, definitely Drumkit From Hell

I went to guitar center to check it out today....there were 2 versions

A $99 version and a $360 version

Is the $99 version sufficient enough, or is it worth the extra cash for the $360? I have a tight budget so I only want to buy it if its worth it.

DKFH 1 "Multisampled" gives you the raw sounds...I went for this because although DKFH superior is supposed to be a lot better it is also uses A LOT more resources, so my computer wouldn't be able to run it. If you get this, you will need a seperate drum sampling program such as Battery.

DKFH Superior - is meant to be amazing, but does require a good computer spec

And I've only heard bad things about DKFH2 but I've not actually used or heard much of it so I can't comment myself

DKFH 1 "Multisampled" gives you the raw sounds...I went for this because although DKFH superior is supposed to be a lot better it is also uses A LOT more resources, so my computer wouldn't be able to run it. If you get this, you will need a seperate drum sampling program such as Battery.

DKFH Superior - is meant to be amazing, but does require a good computer spec

And I've only heard bad things about DKFH2 but I've not actually used or heard much of it so I can't comment myself

Wait.....so 2 is bad? Thats all I could find besides DKFH Superior

Also, do I put the drums together in the program or do I have to use another program to put it all together?

DFH2 is fine. It's the exact same kit (Tomas Haake's) as is used in Superior, but it only contains that one kit and also some percussion. That is fine if you want the Meshuggah drum sound - it is the exact kit they used on Catch 33. So if you're happy with that then the $99 one will be fine. The $360 one just has a few more kits in it.

The kit is already put together, you just choose mic and reverb details etc

$360 bucks to have Thomas Haake play in your band sounds pretty fuckin sweet to me.